Bocholt and Wuxi formalise their official town twinning

The town of Bocholt and the Chinese city of Wuxi are on the verge of formally establishing their town twinning. The Office of Foreign Affairs of the Wuxi Municipal Government has now informed the town of Bocholt in writing that approval for the official town twinning has been granted by the central government in Beijing. The joint agreement is due to be signed in Bocholt next year.

The city of Wuxi is situated in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu, in the economically vibrant Yangtze Delta and close to Lake Taihu. The city has a population of around 7.5 million and is known for its industry, trade and technology, as well as its scenic location. Culturally, the city's character is shaped by, amongst other things, the historic Grand Canal, its proximity to Lake Taihu and the region's long history.

Relations between Bocholt and Wuxi have existed since 1985. What began with initial contacts has developed over many years into a vibrant partnership. Both cities have achieved tangible successes, particularly in the fields of education, culture, youth exchanges and cooperation. The friendship began with a visit by the then Chinese Ambassador to Germany and the late Hans-Joachim Becher, a master electrician from Bocholt. The founding of the German-Chinese Society of Bocholt in 1997 marked another important step in the development of relations between the two towns.

A particular milestone was the 40th anniversary of the town twinning in 2025. A 44-strong delegation of citizens from Bocholt travelled to China last October and visited, amongst other places, the city of Wuxi. The trip was organised jointly by the German-Chinese Society of Bocholt e.V., the City of Bocholt and the City of Wuxi. The official town twinning is now intended to consolidate this cooperation on a permanent basis and take it to a higher level. Mayor Christian Mangen explains: "The official town twinning with Wuxi is a strong symbol of reliability, dialogue and active international cooperation. Our bond has grown over decades - through personal encounters, school exchanges, cultural projects and mutual trust. With this agreement, Bocholt and Wuxi are opening a new chapter, which we wish to bring to life together.""